3
EducationQuest Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska. About EducationQuest

4
■ Through a permanent endowment, we fund: —Free college planning services —Need-based scholarship programs —Grants that help high schools increase their college-going rate —Outreach services for community agencies EducationQuest Update

5
By 2018, nearly 70% of Nebraska job openings will require postsecondary education. "Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018." DC: The Georgetown University Center of Education and the Workforce. Fast Facts Colleges will fall short of that mark by 3 million graduates. Nationwide, employers will need nearly 22 million new workers with postsecondary degrees.

6
Unemployment Rate by educational attainment (as of August 2013) Education LevelUnemployment Rate Less than high school diploma 11.0% High school graduate 7.6% Some college or associate’s degree 6.0% Bachelor’s degree 3.8% Bureau of Labor Statistics, August

8
Common scholarship criteria GPA Financial Need Ethnicity ACT/SAT score Field of study Leadership College choice Community Service Employer First generation student Talents Activities Military service Disability State of residence Gender

9
Scholarships Tips for students: Focus on college- based and local scholarships. Review ScholarshipQuest at EducationQuest.org. Search free sites to find national awards. Use College Funding Estimator to determine if eligible for need- based awards. Request letters of recommendation in advance.

10
■ Three $500 scholarships across the state ■ Random selection begins in February ■ Parent or Student must attend an FAP (Student must be a junior or senior) ■ Must attend a not for profit Nebraska College ■ Last Year’s Winners: ■ Grand Island High School ■ Pender ■ Lincoln Southeast EducationQuest Financial Aid Program Scholarship

16
Work-Study ■ Based on financial need ■ Allows students to earn money while attending college ■ Paid for hours worked – Shouldn’t expect money up-front to pay tuition ■ Earnings will not impact financial aid the following year

22
PIN…continued ■ Effective April 2015, PIN will be replaced with PAS: Public Access System ■ Students and parents will set up a user ID and password ■ Personally identifiable information will be collected and matched during this process

27
Automatic Zero Automatic Zero Student automatically qualifies for zero EFC if both (1) and (2) are true (1) In 2013 or 2014, anyone in parents’ household received benefits from any of these federal programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – OR parents were eligible to file 2014 IRS Form 1040A or 1040EZ – OR parents were not required to file any income tax return – OR parent is a dislocated worker (2) 2014 income of student’s parents is $24,000 or less

28
Simplified Formula * Simplified Formula * Used for dependent students if both (1) and (2) are true: (1) In 2013 or 2014, anyone in parents’ household received benefits from any federal program listed on Automatic Zero slide – OR the student’s parents could file a A or 1040 EZ IRS Form – OR were not required to file any income tax return – OR the student’s parent is a dislocated worker (2) Parent(s) 2014 Adjusted Gross Income is UNDER $49,999 *Assets excluded

29
Regular Formula* Regular Formula* Used for dependent students if both (1) and (2) are true: (1) In 2013 or 2014, NO ONE in parents’ household received benefits from any federal program listed on the Automatic Zero slide (2) Parent(s) were required to file a 2014 IRS Form 1040 AND Adjusted Gross Income was OVER $49,999 *Assets are included – see table for Education Savings and Asset Protection Allowance

43
Bar Codes and Scanners ■ Scanners – used by most colleges at College Fairs and EPPs ■ Barcodes – each student should register at NebraskaCollegeFairs.org ‒Barcodes for Fall College Fairs and EPPs can be used at Spring College Fairs ‒Students may display their barcode on mobile devices

44
■ ScholarshipQuest – Database of over 2,000 local and state scholarships at EducationQuest.org ■ Scavenger Hunt Scholarship – To apply for this $500 scholarship, students in 9 th - 12 th grade set up a ScholarshipQuest profile ■ Financial Aid Program Scholarship – Juniors and seniors who attend an FAP are eligible to apply for a $500 scholarship Scholarship Resources

45
■ Every two years, EducationQuest awards College Access Grants to Nebraska high schools ■ Grant amounts range from $2,500 to $20,000 per year for four years ■ 22 Nebraska high schools received funding starting in – Goal is to increase college-going rate by 10 percentage points during four years – New applications will be accepted in 2016 College Access Grants